Morocco Quake: Rescuers Dig for Survivors with Bare Hands

Rescuers in Morocco have used their bare hands to dig for survivors, more than 48 hours after a powerful earthquake claimed more than 2,000 lives

Mountain villages near the epicentre lie in ruins and many local people are desperately awaiting aid

The Moroccan government says it has accepted aid from four countries so far – Britain, Spain, Qatar and the UAE

Friday’s earthquake, the country’s deadliest in 60 years, struck below villages in the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakesh

BBC reporter Nick Beake reached the village of Tafeghaghte, where 90 of the 200 residents were confirmed dead, and many others missing

Many people have spent a third night out in the open and we’ve seen rubble strewn across streets of collapsed homes.

Some of the villages are completely wiped out. Here in Moulay Brahim, many, many homes are destroyed.

I was just talking to one man who is living with his wife in a van with a tent outside. He said that they’ve already pulled 40 bodies out of the rubble – which involves local residents digging themselves with their bare hands.

A big problem is getting the machinery up to this very remote region.

We’ve just made the drive from Marrakesh. As we tried to get to this village, one road was completely blocked.

Some aid is getting to these parts but a lot of it is being delivered by charities. These areas are going to be extremely hard to get to.

Many residents are saying it still seems very slow and uncoordinated in terms of the local response.

BBC/Tititlayo Kupoliyi

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group